Abuja, Nigeria – Nigerian billionaire Matthew Tonlagha has signed a lucrative contract with American lobbying firm Valcour, aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s relations with Washington, according to documents reviewed by AFP on Monday.
Lobbying Push in Washington
Tonlagha’s contract with Valcour, valued at $120,000 per month for six months, mandates the firm to lobby U.S. media, the Trump administration, and the U.S. Congress “with the aim of strengthening the bilateral relationship between the United States and Nigeria.”
The deal comes shortly after Nigeria’s National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu concluded a separate agreement in December 2025 with American firm DCI, worth $750,000 per month, to lobby the administration of President Donald Trump.
Context: Trump’s Accusations
These lobbying efforts follow unsubstantiated accusations made by Trump in late 2025, alleging that violence in Nigeria amounted to the “persecution” and “genocide” of Christians.
The Nigerian government and independent analysts have rejected this interpretation, noting that the country’s multiple overlapping conflicts involving jihadist groups, bandit gangs, and communal clashes cannot be reduced to religious persecution. Analysts argue that the narrative has long been promoted by segments of the American religious right.
DCI’s declared role is to help Abuja communicate about “its actions aimed at protecting Christian communities and (maintaining) U.S. support in the fight against West African jihadist groups and other destabilizing elements.”
U.S. Military Strikes in Nigeria
The lobbying contracts also come against the backdrop of U.S. military involvement in Nigeria. On Christmas Day 2025, American forces bombed areas in northwestern Nigeria. The Nigerian government later stated the strikes targeted fighters from the Islamic State group, members of the jihadist Lakurawa group, and local “bandits.”
However, journalists have only confirmed damage to farmland and civilian buildings, along with injuries among the civilian population. The number of fighters killed remains unknown.
Valcour’s Background
Valcour was founded in 2023 by Matt Mowers, a former White House adviser within the U.S. State Department during Trump’s first term, who also served on his election campaign.
Tonlagha’s Role in Nigeria
Tonlagha is vice president of Tantita Security, a company specializing in the protection of oil facilities. Tantita is owned by Oweizidei Thomas Ekpemupolo, a former prominent leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND).
MEND, created in the 2000s, opposed the appropriation of local oil resources by foreign companies and the Nigerian government. The group carried out attacks on oil and gas facilities and kidnapped workers before a government amnesty was introduced in 2009.
Ekpemupolo later secured lucrative contracts with the Nigerian government to protect oil facilities. He is a supporter of President Bola Tinubu and backs his bid for re-election in 2027.
Conclusion
Tonlagha’s lobbying deal with Valcour underscores Nigeria’s intensified efforts to reshape its image in Washington and counter narratives of religious persecution. With both government and private actors investing heavily in U.S. lobbying, the move highlights Abuja’s determination to secure American support amid ongoing security challenges and political pressures at home.
